Foreign investors could sue UK for billions over Brexit

Theresa May arrives at the EU leaders summit in Brussels yesterday where she outlined the offer her government would make to EU citizens living in the UKGONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

The government could face multibillion-pound legal claims from foreign investors if their profits suffer because of Brexit, investment lawyers have told The Times.

International arbitration specialists have been advising overseas companies that if they lose access to the EU single market, they could sue the UK for damages under its bilateral investment treaties with their home countries.

Holger Hestermeyer, an international dispute resolution academic at King’s College London and former staff member at the European Court of Justice, said: “The EU’s so-called divorce bill has sparked much excitement.

“It is insignificant, however, compared to the damages the UK might have to pay to investors if they successfully take the UK to court for damages they suffered because of Brexit.”

Britain has 95 bilateral investment treaties,…

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